Official Review: Deliberations by Dana Mann-Chipkin

deborahveader · Post by **deborahveader** » 31 Mar 2020, 16:33

[Following is an official OnlineBookClub.org review of "Deliberations" by Dana Mann-Chipkin.]

4 out of 4 stars

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Deliberations, written by Dana Mann-Chipkin, takes place in Uniondale on Long Island. It follows the criminal case of an innocent young Black man who has been shot in the arm by a Caucasian police officer. The story really doesn’t delve into too many details of the case. It is more about the jury and their interactions with each other and the public reactions to rampant racism.

Abby Giordano is called for jury duty. She and her husband have been trying to have children and have been going through the insemination process. She is finally pregnant, but finds out that a disgruntled employee at the fertility clinic has mixed up the donor sperm to deliberately wreak racial havoc. It doesn’t matter to her, but her husband isn’t happy about it, and it is then that Abby realizes that he is a racist. Was he always this way? Why didn’t she realize this before?

Abby is dealing with morning sickness, is angry at her husband, and unable to sleep because her roommate juror snores so loudly. She is sleeping in the rec room of the hotel where they are sequestered. She is spending a lot of time with fellow juror Jack, and their mutual attraction is undeniable. Abby is starting to feel very guilty.

This story deals with lots of racial tension. It demonstrates how people can positively change, and how we as a civilized society must undoubtedly change. We all need to genuinely love each other. As quoted by Martin Luther King Jr., “Hate cannot drive out hate.”

I was wondering why such old-fashioned terms were being used in the story, like “negro”, and then I realized that the story is set in 1999. Which doesn’t really make sense, because Abby keeps texting her husband and others throughout. Texting was not really a thing yet in 1999. Those were the days when cell phone plans were very expensive. There was no such thing as unlimited plans or free texting. So that bothered me a bit.

I did appreciate that the author jumps ahead 20 something years, and gives you an update on all the jurors and everyone else in the story. I liked that very much about the ending. It was different and unconventional. This book is not for everyone, though. Excessive cursing was used, there was lots of gang violence and racism issues. So if that bothers you, it might not be for you.

I rate Deliberations, by Dana Mann-Chipkin, 4 out of 4 stars. It was very entertaining. Only a few minor errors, so it was professionally edited, and there were no erotic scenes at all. The book has a moral to it. “The past belongs to the past. Now the time is right for a new beginning.”

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Deliberations
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Harty · Post by **Harty** » 11 Apr 2020, 10:05

I'm afraid the racial tension in this book will get to me, but then again it broaches on an important subject that needs to be highlighted ever so often as its an enigma in society. Thanks for the insightful review.

Miraphery · Post by **Miraphery** » 11 Apr 2020, 17:30

The excessive cursing, violence and racial tensions in this book are going to bother me so I'll pass. Thanks.

FABIAN_BATS · Post by **FABIAN_BATS** » 12 Apr 2020, 12:18

Thanks for your detailed review. It seems like a book that sheds light on the existing racial tension and violence in society. The ending of the book is really thoughtful and I would enjoy that. I often hope for that sort of thing at the end of a good book or movie.